Chatham Islands Cargo Ship Southern Tiare

The Southern Tiare was a regular cargo ship for Norfolk Island until January 2023 when the final shipment from Brisbane was delivered. At that stage the vessel was 35 years old. A few years earlier in 2017, the Southern Tiare was in dry dock for inspections and repairs, and it was rumoured that the ship would be stopping the Norfolk Island deliveries back then, which was over five years before the sea freight service ended, and Sea-Force Barge was the next delivery vessels.

This year I have read that the Southern Tiare has been in dry dock for safety inspections and there were concerns the 37-year old cargo ship may not pass the tests, but to the relief of the Chatham Island community the vessel was cleared to return to service after maintenance repairs.

As the Chatham Island shipping issues is a great concern, the Southern Tiare is a major link between New Zealand and Chatham Island, The local council, businesses and community have been in discussions with New Zealand Government for support to organise a replacement vessel. The regular cargo includes fuel deliveries, Cattle transportation and other essential supplies for the Chatham Island community. I have read publications from June 2023 about Chatham Islands Enterprise Trust (CIET) proposal to replace the Southern Tiare.

This article is interesting, it has details of the negotiations for support from New Zealand for support with shipping issues as well as energy costs, the meatworks and waste water etc.

Energy and shipping decisions needed before meatworks - Chatham Islands mayor | RNZ News 18 April 2025

The previous government in 2022 allocated $35.1m to both keep the ship running and build a new ship, but the cost of repairs rose from $6m to $10m and the coalition chose not to proceed with the new ship build - instead seeking a solution from the private sector.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/more-reliable-resilient-supply-vessel-sought-chatham-islands 27 March 2025

The New Zealand Government is seeking proposals from shipping operators to provide a new supply vessel for the Chatham Islands. “Today, the Government has opened tenders to shipping operators who can provide a more reliable and resilient shipping service to replace the Southern Tiare. The new service will need the capability to transport fuel, livestock and general freight to and from Waitangi Port and Pitt Island. Crucially, it will need to provide a regular, reliable and resilient service.”

SOUTHERN TIARE (IMO: 8719176)

The Southern Tiare is a general cargo ship built in 1987 and sails under a Cook Islands flag.

Here are extracts from Chatham Island Shipping Limited (CISL)

About — Chatham Islands Shipping Ltd

https://www.chathamislandsshipping.co.nz/about

Chatham Island Shipping Limited is the exclusive sea freight carrier for all export and import goods between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand. The regular service is between Waitangi on the Chatham Islands, Pitt Island, to and from Timaru and Napier New Zealand. This versatile ship has been adapted for the transport of livestock and is designed to carry both breakbulk and containerized products, including dry, frozen, and chilled goods.

BUILT: 1987
CLASS: LLOYDS
GRT/NRT: 1185/361 KNOTS
DWT: 1720 CRANES

DRAFT AT SL: 4.27mtrs
LOA: 67.55mtrs
BEAM: 11.4mtrs
CAPACITY HOLD: 36 TEU

CAPACITY DECK: 21 TEU
REEFER CAPACITY: 12 TEU
ATTAINED SPEED: 9-11 KNOTS
CARGO GEAR: 2 x 20MT CRANES

MAXIMUM LIFTING: 35MT
BOWTHRUSTER: 250 KW
FUEL CON: About 3.5T/24hrs
OPERATORS: Chatham Islands Shipping Ltd

https://chathamislands.co.nz/our-islands/

The Chatham Islands lies just 860 kilometres to the east of Christchurch and consists of a small group of 11 islands. They range in size from just a few hectares to the main Chatham Island at just over 920 square kilometres. These islands are New Zealand’s most easterly territory. The time zone on the Chatham Islands is 45 minutes ahead of mainland New Zealand. There are about 600 people living on the Chatham Islands, including 40 or so people on Pitt Island. The islands support a thriving business community and a unique way of life.

I have checked my articles I previously wrote and here are some extracts with information regarding the Southern Tiare and servicing sea-freight for Norfolk Island from Brisbane and Auckland.

In January 2023 the Southern Tiare was aged 35 years old made the final cargo delivery to Norfolk Island. This Chatham Island vessel had been transporting supplies and cargo to Norfolk Island for many years. The Southern Tiare is a smaller ship and suitable for lighterage system used on Norfolk Island where nets are filled with cargo and then lowered in the nets to the awaiting lighter boats below. Modern freight ships are too large and too high to safely unload in this system. The traditional lighter boats are towed to the Cascade Pier or Kingston Pier where the nets are then lifted by crane to the awaiting shore crew who use forklifts to transfer the items onto awaiting trucks for delivery to Norfolk Island businesses. This system of unloading cargo ships on Norfolk Island is fantastic to watch and tourist enjoy viewing from the safety of the car parks and taking photos and videos.

Note: As from May 2022 the new cargo transfer vessels were introduced and the local lighterage boats were retired.

One of my first articles back in 2014 was the bus coming off the Southern Tiare and another was the bull being unloaded off the ship, which was also in 2014. A big highlight for me was in 2015 when the outriggers were delivered, that day I was allowed out on Guppy, the boat towing the lighterage boats. It was amazing to see the Southern Tiare up close and photograph the lighterage crew working the ship unloading cargo and the Wa’a outriggers.

The other regular freight ship, the Norfolk Guardian delivered cargo as well as the Capitaine Wallis. The Guardian retired and was sent to India or Pakistan as to be broken down into scrap metal. I think it was in late 2018 or early 2019, that the Norfolk Guardian retired. I will need to search back from my ship photos to check which year.

Here are a few photos from the final visit to Norfolk Island January 2023, with the Southern Tiare in the stunning summer sunset, and during the unloading. When looking at my photos it had me thinking the sun was setting on the Southern Tiare as she was farewelled after so many years of the ship’s company and crew looking after Norfolk Island.

I feel that here on Norfolk Island we relate to the Chatham Islands as we are both “little remote South Pacific Islands. Plus, we also have issues finding suitable cargo vessels and the increasing cost for sea freight services.

Thanks, yorlye, we appreciate all the support and services provided for Norfolk Island for so many years and we are pleased to read the Southern Tiare is still delivery imports and exports for the Chatham Islands.

Betty Matthews

9 May 2025